Days after the story of Sylvia Choi’s death following Stereosonic Music Festival in Sydney, and the subsequent calls for modified harm reduction practices, Rainbow Serpent Festival in Australia might be the first to take the plunge and seriously consider testing pills at its venue.
Amidst new reports and initiatives decrying the invasive, and often incorrect, use of drug-sniffer dogs, festival Director Tim Harvey believes that a new method is needed to combat the recent string of deaths at Australian music festivals.
“It’s really legislative change that’s preventing us from looking at it.” Mr Harvey said. “We need some progressive and brave politicians who recognise the current approach isn’t working and can communicate the benefits of changing strategies to the mainstream Australian population.”
Following the death of her son in 2012, Adriana Buccianti introduced a petition on Change.org calling to introduce ‘drug checking services’ to festivals and high-risk areas. She writes, “I can’t get my son back but I want to make sure no-one else has to go through the hell of losing their child to a mistake like I did.”
120 people were treated for the effects of drugs, and nine were hospitalized, at this year’s Stereosonic in Sydney.
